Celebration

The guild hall erupted in a cacophony of noise as we celebrated our hard-won victory, the sound reverberating off the wooden beams and stone walls. Shouts of joy and exuberant cheers filled the air, creating an atmosphere thick with pure elation and camaraderie. Colorful banners hung from the ceiling, swaying gently as the crowd moved, and the warm glow of lanterns illuminated the faces of the revelers, casting a golden hue over the scene.

As new members we were welcomed with open arms and pride. We were quickly surrounded by curious guildmates eager to ask us questions and praise us for our bravery. Laughter mingled with the clinking of mugs as drinks were raised in toasts, and the scent of hearty food wafted through the hall, adding to the festive ambiance. 

Hikari, ever the charismatic one, engaged with the crowd, effortlessly captivating both men and women alike. He shared in their laughs as they tell him story of past adventures.

"Oh my god, he's handsome," one girl whispered, while another giggled and added, "Have you seen the other one? He's so hot!" She glared at me as she spoke almost drooling. It wasn't surprising that Hikari was popular with the girls; his blond hair and blue eyes were a real cheat code. Even back home, he was the pride of the town. Though he was poor and grew up in an orphanage, Hikari always did his best to help everyone around him. He was sort of like our hometown hero, protecting children, the elderly, and even farm animals when monsters attacked. Everyone loved him for it, and I found myself beginning to consider him a friend.

Alina and Katherine drew the most attention from the men in the guild, all of whom seemed captivated by their beauty. Katherine shyly watched as Alina flirted with them, conning them into buying more drinks. I stood with my cup in hand, a proud smile etched across my face. It was a celebration fit for a god. I was mostly trying to memorize the faces of the people in the guild, a difficult task as a group of girls surrounded me, attempting to strike up a conversation. However, they eventually grew bored and left. Girls weren't on my list of priorities right now; I could always build my own harem of specially selected girls once I became a god. In fact, I had already found a promising candidate, and we were making frequent eye contact through the crowd.

She was with a group of seemingly important guild members, and it seemed other men were also staring at her. Some were likely waiting for her to be alone so they could approach, while others simply wanted to admire her beauty from afar. I couldn't help but appreciate her allure; she wore a black dress that suited her much better than the red one she had tried on before. Perhaps it was her pale skin that made the difference. Even among the crowd of people celebrating and dancing, she definitely stood out.

This celebration was held to honor me, Hikari, Alina, and Katherine for our accomplishments in defeating the mutants and demons while protecting the celestial beast. It seemed to mark our official acceptance into the guild; at least we had earned a degree of their trust.

I chose not to inform Hikari and the others about the deal I had struck with Ryomen. I doubted they could maintain their composure or handle the weight of such betrayal. I wouldn't let them jeopardize my plans just because they decided to play the hero. Everyone here is an enemy, even you, Mariah. A day might come when I'm forced to kill you. Will I be able to do it? I wonder. I was surprised to even be thinking this. I didn't want to dwell on it. I am a very lazy person; whenever I see an easy path to my goal, I pursue it at all costs. That's the kind of person I am.

All of you are just obstacles in my path to becoming god. This guild is nothing more than a check point on my way to the top. The mere thought of ascending to godhood filled me with an excitement, igniting a fire within me that I could hardly contain, it was the only thing that could make me feel this way.

Being distracted in thought I dropped my guard, I then felt something wet licked my ear. It instantly snapped me back to reality. "What lewd thoughts are going through that mind of yours Ban-Ban?" A mischievous smile danced across her face as I turned to look at her. She playfully took the cup from my hand and took a sip. "You did a good job on your first quest." she said

"I'm just happy we managed to protect the celestial beast," 

"Is that so...?" 

"Yes, they are the Gods' gift to man—a treasure that should be protected." 

"They certainly are," Mariah responded, her tone shifting slightly. "The leader of the mutant group you encountered is named Ryomen. He's been causing us problems for a while now. He managed to form a group of about fifty followers. All of them fools!" Her expression darkened as she spoke, revealing a bitterness that contrasted with her earlier playfulness. She leaned in closer, placing her hand on my chest. "Hey, Ban-Ban... I'm feeling a bit sick. Do you mind following me back to my room—"

Just then, we were interrupted by Cyrus, who wore a grim expression. Mariah quickly adjusted herself, putting some distance between us. Cyrus signaled for her to come, and she waved goodbye to me as she left with him, her playful demeanor fading.

As I stood watching Miariah leave, a voice called out to me. I turned to see who the voice belonged to.

"Sythe?"

He made his way over to me. "Your training starts tomorrow. Make sure to inform the others; we begin at dawn." Sythe stated in his usual flat tone.

"I don't think we need any training" I replied.

"Don't be too cocky. There are more powerful enemies you have yet to face. It's better to improve yourself now than to regret it later." Sythe answered, then turned to leave. As he walked away, he paused and added for a moment and spoke without turning around to face me, "Thank you for your help. Without you, we couldn't have saved the celestial beast. For that, you have my respect." And with those words that seemed like gratitude, he left.

That day on the mountain, after we had defeated the demon and the mutants, I headed back to the guild to inform them of what had happened. Mariah quickly assembled the guild members, knowing there was one person in particular she needed help from: Eliza, Sythe's sister.

Eliza was a striking figure, her dark skin glowing with a radiant warmth that drew the eye. She had long, curly hair and a well-shaped figure, her good looks only second to Mariah's. Her eyes were particularly mesmerizing—a deep, dark blue speckled with white sparks that resembled a starry night sky, giving her an otherworldly allure.

Eliza possessed an unusual ability that allowed her to open a portal to another dimension. They decided to lock the Yeti inside it for safekeeping. However, there was a time limit on how long the celestial beast could survive there, and they planned to release him once it was safe from the mutants and demons.

The rest of the night proceeded without incident; everyone continued to dance and celebrate. By the end of the evening, Katherine and I found ourselves carrying Hikari and Alina, who were too drunk to walk back on their own.

As we made our way back, I noticed a bright smile on Katherine's face. "You seem really happy," I remarked.

"Yes, I am! Everyone was so nice to us; they welcomed us with open arms," she replied, her smile radiating warmth.

"They seem like good people," I agreed.

"They took us in and helped us. I'm so grateful for them," Katherine said, her eyes sparkling with appreciation. "I'm also grateful for finding friends like Hikari and Alina... and you, of course. At first, I thought you were a bit scary, but—" Katherine paused, realizing what she had said. "I'm sorry, Banri," she apologized, bowing her head.

"You thought I was scary?" I inquired.

"Yes. It's your eyes. This might seem rude, but... your eyes remind me of the monsters that were on the mountain. But it doesn't bother me anymore. I've heard a lot of good things about you from Hikari, and I was wondering if maybe... you and I could become closer. I want us to be good friends, Banri... like how you are with Alina."

What the hell was this girl saying?

"I also want us to become good friends. From now on, let's try to talk to each other more." I said

Katherine nodded in agreement to my words, somehow even happier than before. I couldn't help but wonder why a girl like her would take on this quest. She seemed a bit childish, the type who viewed the world with wide-eyed wonder. Perhaps this was why Hikari liked her so much. I could see the beginnings of a love triangle forming between the three of them, and I wanted no part of it.